Family Law

Glyn Farrow, Chief Executive, Children Law UK. Despite greatly increased means of communication children, parents and families, and to some extent whole sectors of the community, are isolated more now than ever before. Children Law UK has developed to reflect these changes and is moving into the twenty-first century from a new starting block, to take on the ever-increasing challenges presented to the courts, throughout the UK. To clarify the goals of its work the charity has now identified certain key points which it will pursue in the forthcoming years.

Purpose

To promote better justice for children

Vision The child is a whole person:

• in all legal proceedings relating to a child, the childs welfare is the primary consideration
• issues of care and of justice are always considered together in a holistic approach

The child has a voice:

• In all legal proceedings relating to a child, the child has a right and a realistic opportunity to state his or her views
• The child is given effective support to state his or her views

The child's voice is heard:

• in all legal proceedings relating to a child, professionals and decision makers engage effectively with the child
• practitioners and decision makers are trained and supported to apply the holistic approach and to hear the voice of the child

The child is treated as a child:

• the age of criminal responsibility is raised to at least 14
• every effort is made to deal with concerns about a child before the formal court procedure commences.

See November [2006] Fam Law for the full article.